Five high-flying UL students

DeBellevue, USL Class of 1968, scored kills against six Soviet-made MiG fighters, more than any other Air Force aviator in Vietnam. A weapons system officer in two-seater F4Ds, DeBellevue notched all six victories between May 10 and Sept. 9, 1972. He is the most recent American to reach “ace” status.

2.

Albert Hanlin Crews Jr.

Crews, SLI Class of 1950, had the fortune and misfortune of being selected as an astronaut for two space programs that were canceled before launch: the Dyna-Soar and Manned Orbital Laboratory programs. He flew cargo and research aircraft for NASA and operated the SAIL space shuttle simulator.

3.

Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc

DeBlanc, SLI Class of 1947, shot down three Japanese planes soon after his arrival as a Marine pilot at Guadalcanal late in 1942. On Jan. 29, 1943, he led a squadron escorting American bombers in the Solomon Islands. During the course of several engagements and despite fuel system problems with his own F4F fighter, he managed to shoot down five more Japanese planes before his own fighter was forced to ditch. Severely wounded, he was picked up by one islander tribe and traded to another for a sack of rice. DeBlanc was eventually rescued by American forces. He was awarded the Medal of Honor. He died in 2007.

4.

Joseph “Brod” Veillon

Veillon, USL Class of 1975, attended the U.S. Air War College and became a command pilot in F-4, F-15 and F-16 fighters. He joined the Louisiana Air National Guard in 1992 and now, as a brigadier general, is the top Air Guard adviser to the Louisiana National Guard’s adjutant general. He coordinated Louisiana National Guard support of Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department search and rescue after Hurricane Katrina.

5.

Clifford Schoeffler

Schoeffler graduated from Lafayette High in 1940 and attended SLI before enlisting. He received his wings in 1943 and flew 30 bombing missions with the Eighth Air Force in England. During the Vietnam War, Schoeffler served as a top Strategic Air Command officer at Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base, flying missions in B-52s, KC-135 tankers and Huey helicopters. He later became a top aviation adviser to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He died in 2005.